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Plato’s Closet has been buying guys and girls gently used, name-brand clothing, shoes and accessories since April for its grand opening on Thursday.

Plato’s Closet is part of a unique national recycling retail chain that specializes in clothing and accessories for teens and twenty-somethings.

Co-owners Seth and Jordan Prater opened their first Plato’s Closet in Jonesboro near Arkansas State University in 2012. With three colleges in the city, the husband and wife team decided to open their second location in Conway at 500 Amity Road, Suite 3.

Jordan Prater said teens and twenty-somethings love to shop at Plato’s Closet because they can get brand-name clothing at great values, and parents love the fact that their kids can take their gently-used, brand-name clothing and turn it into cash.

The “open to buy” period usually lasts six to eight months, but the Praters were able to stock their store in less than three months.

Jordan said she and Seth have been actively getting to know the Plato’s Closet demographic by interacting with students from each of the colleges. Community interaction, paired with inundated radio and TV advertising has enabled the store to open early.

Some of the store’s most popular and high-demand brands include Rock Revival, Miss Me, PINK by Victoria’s Secret and Under Armour, Jordan said. The store also has a collection of more than 50 designer purses, and a wide selection of shoes including Chaco Sandals, Nikes and Minnetonka Moccasins.

Jordan said Plato’s Closet tries to accommodate every price point with jeans ranging from $8 to $80. For example, Miss Me Jeans range from $40 to $60 at Plato’s Closet, Jordan said, with an original retail price of $100-plus.

“If they’re looking for the best value or the best brand at a good value, we can accommodate every price point,” she said.

Although Plato’s Closet will officially make the transition from “open to buy” to celebrating it’s grand opening as a full service recycling retail store on Thursday, Jordan said the store would always pay cash for gently used items.

The store’s current “high demand items” include guys clothing, tank tops, dresses and accessories such as jewelry, purses and wallets, Jordan said.

No appointment is necessary to sell clothing and accessories to Plato’s Closet. The store pays cash on the spot for goods it purchases from consumers. Typically, Plato’s Closet buys items that have been in retail stores within the past 12-18 months and are current styles seen in the mall.

“We don’t try to create new fashion trends, we respond to actual trends in a timely and value-oriented manner,” Prater said.

Plato’s Closet will open at 10 a.m. Thursday. Jordan suggests getting to the store early for the best selection. When the Praters opened their Jonesboro store, Jordan said, customers lined up outside on opening day.

Plato’s Closet, 500 Amity Road, Suite 3, is open Monday - Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. For more information call 501-504-6900.